Pay to remove footer links on forum template - Worth the investment?

[Asia_Expat]

I have a forum that's growing and it's out of the box software, heavily modified to fit my needs, including extensive SEO to remove dupe content.
I'm now focusing on the footer links that go to the software vendor's website and they've always been an irritation. Obviously, I can't remove them due to the terms of use policy but I have nofollowed them some time ago, which does not violate the copyright whatever.

There is also the option to shell out hundreds of Dollars to remove them altogether. What is the likely SEO advantage of doing so?

[edited by: Asia_Expat at 12:48 am (utc) on April 25, 2008]

[caveman]

Pretty much, none.

I hate nofollow, but in this case your use of it is pretty kosher: You sorta imply the link is a commercial one in nature, which it is, and your use of it is very consistent with what the SE's intended. The developer's site doesn't receive artifically created benefit from an essentially commercial relationship, and your site goes on as normal.

The only minor loss to your site is traffic that follows that link, but it seems to me that if you are making use of their product, perhaps they deserve the traffic, if not the linkjuice?

[Asia_Expat]

It's not free software BTW and I purchased a perpetual license already. If I drive a BMW (and have paid for the vehicle), I don't feel the need to have BMW's sales hotline painted on the doors.
Thanks for your thoughts BTW... and I'd pretty much decided the same as you... not worth the investment.

[edited by: Asia_Expat at 3:15 am (utc) on April 25, 2008]